Eshin Direct

A man arrives in New York only to find that while he was in the air, his country experienced a civil war. He is left in a state of limbo where the passport he travels under is no longer recognised by the US government or the his own country. As a result, he lives in an abandoned gate at JFK airport, finding ways to have fun and to earn money.

Rumour has it that this was based on a true story and I suspect that if this story had been true, it would have been set in a pre-911 period. I doubt very much that the US would allow a man to happily roam around the abandoned corridors of New York’s international airport. While they would happily deny you entry into the Land of the Free, I’m sure that they would have no problems, passport or not, repatriating you back to your country of origin.

There is not much to say about this film. I enjoyed watching it but at the end of the day, it’s a no-brainer comic feel-good movie. Perhaps it’s a timely Hollywood reminder to Americans and the rest of the world that the US hasn’t entirely closed its borders with a stormtrooper zeal that would do Bush proud. But that really is stretching.

Should I go into the stereotypes, particularly the racial stereotypes? The Chinese illegal immigrants, the Russian who managed to fly to Canada to buy medication for his father yet goes crazy at US customs and can’t speak English, and the comical Ghandi-type character are the usual suspects. All we needed was some Jihadi to walk in and the cast would be complete.

The plot line was predictable. You knew the bureaucrat was going to be an asshole. You knew that the main protagonist was going to fall in love with the flight attendant (although there was a stab at a bitter sweet ending). You also knew that the man would accomplish his mission somehow. You knew that the big hulking black immigration officer was actually a big softie at heart.

If I’ve spoiled the film for you, don’t worry. The plot isn’t why you’re seeing the film and probably liking it. The writers have no doubt spent more time crafting the interwoven episodes than on the storyline which makes for a film that simply amuses.

Worth a look. Earth shattering it ain’t. Life changing it ain’t. Expect better from Spielberg? Yep. An amusing two hours? Yep.

Besides, it’s worth it to see Catherine Zeta-Jones as a flight attendant. Although, I doubt she would have been impressed with a dinner date at an aiport.

Tags: Movies